When it comes to skincare, the sheer amount of products out there is enough to intimidate even the best of us. Whilst it can often take a few years and a lot of trial and error to find a skin care routine that works for you, especially if your skin is sensitive, my tactic has always been to keep it simple, and be mindful of ingredients so that you know what you’re putting on your skin. I wanted to share a few of my favourite ethical skincare brands with you and the hero products I come back to again and again.
AS Apothecary are a small batch distillery based in Sussex. Their products range from medicinal balms to serums, oils and hand wash all made from natural ingredients such as flowers, bark, leaves, roots, blossom and moss. Come spring I love to switch out my K&W oil for one of their light formula moisturisers and aromatic waters, which I use as a toner. The floral scent is subtle but a lovely reminder of the flowers blooming outside.
More recently I’ve made the switch to using oil all year round on my skin in the evenings. I’ve used Bashō’s nourishing face oil, which is really lovely and not too heavily scented. Crafted in Cornwall, they have 5 facial oils to choose from based on your skin type. Again, all ingredients are plant based.
I’ve started using a serum for the first time this year, in the evenings after I’ve cleansed and toned, before putting oil on. Serum can be really expensive, and Evolve’s Hyaluronic serum was one of the most affordable I could find - it also came very highly reviewed. I’ve been really pleased with it, I don’t think it smells that great, but I definitely notice the difference on my skin.
Although I have yet to use any of their products day-to-day, I have been lucky enough to enjoy a facial at Botany using Honest products, which were every bit as lovely as you’d think. The cleansing balm in particular was really nice - again this has avocado in as well as lavender, which is one of my favourite scents. I’d be keen to try this over summer as a lightweight alternative to the Sukin cream cleanser. My favourite face-cloths to cleanse with our Pico’s organic cotton cloths - they’re big and lovely and thick. I use each side once before washing, and usually have 4 on rotation.